Whiterock Resort
Group Tour Information
ONE OF THE BEST DAY TRIPS WE HAVE EVER HAD!"
These are words of satisfied group tour customers who have visited Garst Farm Resorts, now the Whiterock Resort. We are pleased to provide references upon request.
Options for Group Tours Agribusiness Tours
Grandparents/Grandkid Day for Group Tours Elementary School Tour
One Day Coach Excursion
At Whiterock Resort, we offer a wide variety of programs ideal for one day coach excursions. Although we are flexible and happy to design a visit to suit your time frame, our most popular program, typically scheduled from 10:00 am to 3:30 p.m., April 15th through October 1st, goes as follows:
Visit the historic Garst Farm, which Nikita Khrushchev visited in 1959. Liz Garst or staff member will relate funny and true stories about the development of modern agriculture and the Khrushchev connection, while guests enjoy homemade cookies. The "Garst Farm" visit also includes a tour of the 1940s era farm home, offering antiques, memorabilia, gorgeous
photographs, a basement gift shop and lovely gardens. A step-on guide will join your coach for a tour of local commercial farms and a look at the Garst Seed Company. The group will then proceed to the River House, nestled deep in a beautiful river valley. Here, guests will stroll the lovely gardens, visit the historic dance barn and view a fun display of local animal tracks. Lunch includes Buffalo Burgers with all the fixings, and seasonal homemade side dishes. The group will then board an easy-to-mount hay rack and ride through the beautiful valley to see ponds, wildlife and fascinating rock formations. Finally, guests will enjoy a live demonstration and talk about local birds of prey before heading home.
The price of the above package is $30/person, including tax. Single activities and other options are also offered, tailored to meet your needs. The minimum group size for most programs is 25 persons. Admission for the bus driver and one hostess for each 25 guests is complimentary. Payment in full is expected 5 days in advance of the visit.
Whiterock Resort is conveniently located on Highway 141, just ½ mile east of Coon Rapids, Iowa. Coon Rapids is about 1 ¼ hour NW of Des Moines, 2 hours NE Omaha, and ½ hour SW of Carroll.
Back to Top Guest Comments: Group ToursGrandparents Day! $30/person (same terms as above)
Invite your seniors club to bring the grandchildren, ages 5 and up, for a day of fun together. The program starts at the River House, nestled deep in the Whiterock Valley. Enjoy a snack, while strolling the flower gardens and visiting the old-time dance barn. The group will then enjoy a live demonstration and talk about local birds of prey, including a hawk, owl or falcon. Next board a hay rack and ride through the beautiful valley to see ponds and rock formations and to look for animal tracks and wildlife. Guests will also have a chance to make a plaster cast of the foot of a local wild animal to take home. Lunch includes Buffalo Burgers with all the fixings, and seasonal homemade side dishes. After lunch, we'll take fishing lessons ( baiting, casting, fish identification, cleaning) at the Garst Farm Lodge, and the kids will try some real fishing on the banks of Lodge Pond. Tour the Garst Farm Lodge before you leave for a quick look at the cows, the buffaloes, and the historic Garst Home, which showcases antiques, historic photos of the Khrushchev visit, Russian memorabilia, gardens and a unique gift shop.Total program length is 6 hours. Price includes sales tax, and free admission for the bus driver and one hostess for each 25 guests. Minimum group size is 25.
Back to TopGroup Tour Options
Minimum Group Size is 25 though smaller groups can be accommodated with higher per person prices. Prices may be reduced when activities are combined. Times are approximate, call our friendly staff for Group Tour rates.
Visit the historic Garst Farm family home, which Nikita Khrushchev visited in 1959. Liz Garst or staff member will relate funny and true stories about the development of modern agriculture and the Khrushchev connection while guests enjoy homemade cookies. The "Garst Farm" visit also includes a tours of the 1940s era home, offering antiques, memorabilia, gorgeous photographs, a basement gift shop and lovely gardens.
Meals include BUFFALO BURGERS with all the fixings, and seasonal homemade side dishes. (Other meat choices are available.) The River House facility features a lovely yard and gardens, a historic dance barn and a fun display of animal tracks and antique farm tools.
Go back in time as you board a easy on and off hay rack for a ride along the river. The tractor pulled hay rack winds past ponds, woods and lovely rock formations. Wildlife is common.
A step on guide will show you farming practices on nearby farms. Soil conservation efforts … tillage methods, terraces, waterways, buffers, wetlands and government farm programs are discussed. A brief look at the Garst bison herd and the Garst Seed Company are included.
Visit the world’s largest seed corn plant, which during the harvest season is a whirlwind of action and color. The Quality Control Labs make an interesting visit at any time and in any weather.
Local environmental educator Kay Neumann will demonstrate live birds of prey at the River House, and discuss how these birds are adapted to their environments. The program is lively and informative.
Visit native and reconstructed prairies and savannah restorations, by hack rack! Prairie and savannah management is discussed.
Charles Carpenter and David Tousain of Beaver Creek Farms south of Dedham discuss bee-keeping, antique apples and fruit production, and other non-traditional crops. hey lead a thoughtful discussion about trends in modern agriculture and present a compelling alternative. Participants must be able to walk several blocks.
price depends on program
Whiterock Resort can arrange specialized agri-business tours in the area. In addition to a stop at Garst Seed Company (see above), tours can also be arranged at the Tall Corn Ethanol plant near Coon Rapids, a bio-diesel plant managed by West Central Coop, a large hog farm, and a cattle breeding operation.
Take fishing lessons! The tour starts at the Garst Farm Lodge and includes instruction on baiting, casting, identification and cleaning. Everyone will have a chance to fish on the nearby Lodge Pond. Also, the group will take a guided walking tour of Garst Farm to look at cows, bison, horses, cattle feed, manure handling, etc. There will also be a quick history lesson about the farm, which Nikita Khrushchev visited in 1959. The group will then proceed to the River House, nestled deep in a beautiful river valley. Here guests will stroll the gardens, visit the historic dance barn and view a fun display of local animal tracks. Picnic table (or the barn if damp) will be available for your sack lunch. After lunch, everyone will enjoy a live demonstration and talk about local birds of prey. This program works for 2nd graders on up.
School and Youth Group General Information
Back to Top Guest Comments: Group Tours Gift Shop
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Contact Information
- Telephone: 712-684-2964
- FAX: 712-684-2299
- Whiterock Resort
- 1390 Highway 141, Coon Rapids, Iowa 50058
- whiterock@iowatelecom.net
